Man Drove from Atlanta to Lower Confederate Flag in Spartanburg County, Arrested

Spartanburg County in Stir Again

In Spartanburg County, South Carolina, a man was arrested for allegedly trespassing on private property to lower a prominently displayed Confederate flag. The incident reportedly occurred on Teaberry Road, along I-85 south, during the late hours of Saturday, July 13. The suspect has been identified as James Daniel Blitch, a resident of Atlanta, Georgia.

Evidence on Location

Law enforcement officers from the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office were summoned to the location around 10:30 p.m., following reports of an individual climbing the property’s fence. Responding officers found Blitch on the premises, claiming his intention to lower the controversial flag because he didn’t agree with the flag’s symbolic representation, according to officials.

On location, authorities discovered that Blitch had used a nearby tree to climb over the fence. In the possession of the suspect, they recovered a number of tools, which included a Dremel and multiple drill bits. Flagged by conspicuous ‘no trespassing’ signs, the property where this incident ensued is reportedly well-marked to deter unauthorized access.

Blitch Arrested

Following his arrest, Blitch was charged with two counts of trespassing and subsequently booked into the Spartanburg County Detention Center. This was not the first incident of its kind to occur at this site. In fact, there was another attempt to vandalize the same Confederate flag on Friday, July 12, just one day prior to Blitch’s actions. The latter case remains under investigation.

Long-Running Controversy

The Confederate flag in question has long been a subject of controversy within the Spartanburg County community. Two years ago, in 2022, local officials called for the removal of the flagpole, arguing it was in violation of the county’s land use ordinances.

However, in 2023, in an appeal to the Board of Zoning, the property owners fought for their right to fly the flag. As record shows, the Board eventually ruled in their favour and allowed the flag and its pole to remain.

Despite ongoing controversies and repeated attempts to have the flag removed, it continues to fly – a move seen by some as an assertion of personal freedom and by others as a tacit endorsement of the values associated with the Confederate cause.

Looking Forward

Given the deep-seated roots of this issue within the local community, it appears that disputes relating to the Confederate flag and symbol it embodies are unlikely to stop any time soon. As it stands, the case is ongoing with the potential for further developments likely to ensue in the near future.